Gas and liquid separator



March 24, 1931.

H. W. HOW

GAS AND LIQIITD SEPARATOR Filed March 18, 1930 Patented Mar. 24, 1931 misu- Tiss- Harman w. now, or WARREN, rnn'nsrnv'am, assrenon. rosrnurnnns wn'LLs- PATENT -;oFFi-icE Ci?I'l.USYIIIJIJE: CORPORATION, OF WARREN, P ENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF ens AND mourn snrnna'ron Original application filed July 11, 1929, .Serial No. 377,540. Divided and this application filed. Ear-ch 1 8,

1930. Serial no. 436,710. V

This invention relates to a separator for separating gases and liquids and more particularly to a separator which is designed for use in'eonnection with a high velocity evapo- 6 rator and is designed to utilize the velocity of the vapor and the entrained liquor therein for separating the liquor from the vapor although the separator can also be used in other installations where it is desired to sep- 10 arate entrained liquid from a gas.

This application is a divisional' application ofa plication Serial No. 377,540, filed by me on uly 11, 1929, for improvementsin evaporators. J The principal object of the present invention is to provide means for separating the liquor from the vapor'of high velocity evaporator which will handle large amounts 0 vapor and entrainedliquor at high velocities and will not only insure the separation of large and small shots or drops of liquor'that come over with the vapor, but also insure the separation of the liquor which is entrained in mist. form with thevapor, this separator, 25 while particularly adapted for use-in connection with an evaporator, being capable of use in other fields where the separation of sired. 1

Anotherpurpose isto provide such separators which. are particularly adaptable for use between the diiferent eifects of a multiple efiect evaporator, the separators being designed to maintain the passages at the proper area, and maintain high velocities throughout the apparatus.

entraided liquid imma vapor or gas is de- Another object is to provide such a separator which issimple and eificient in its action, which is. inexpensive in construction and which will remain in goodworking condition for a long period of time.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section through a high velocity evaporator equipped with a va- 1 porseparator made in accordance-with the present invention; r

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through the; vapor separator and its: connections with the high velocity evaporator.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section talren on line 3-3, Fig. 2. a

F' re 4 is a side elevation of the inner mom or or baflle employed in the vapor separator shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Similar numerals refer to like parts in each of the several views. 1

In its general organization this invention comprises a vapor separator having its inlet adapted'to be connected to the vapor outlet of a high velocity evaporator and to receive the vapor and entrained liquor therefrom and having'a liquor outlet in'line with the inlet so that drops or shots of liquor are separated directly. and also having a series of bafiles between the inlet and its vapor outlet so that any remaining entrained liquor isref moved from the vapor by whipping it back and forth before leaving the vapor outlet.

The separator forming the subject matter of thepresent. application shown as arranged to separate the entrained moisture from an inclined high velocity evaporator which is more particularly described in my copending application Ser. No. 3775 3, filed July 11, 1929, and isgenerallybrganized as follows:

The numeral 10 represents an inclined cylindrical shell to the upper end of which is secured an upper cylindrical header 11 having an upper cover 12 at its outer end and the cylindrical shell 10 having a lower cylindrical header 13 which has a lower cover l i'at its outer end. These parts are bolted or secured together in any suitable manner and between the headers 11, 13,and the cylindrical shell 10 upper and lower tube sheets 15 are inter osed. These tube sheets support a plurality-o tubes 16 which extend through the tube" sheets and are Expanded or otherwise suitably secured thereto. r r r The upper vapor header 11 is formedgto provide an outlet 9 for the return oftheiens er part of the vertical return pipe 17. In order to secure the best results, a low hydrostatic head is, maintained, the liquor level, as best shown in Fig. 1, being at from one-fifth to one-third of the height of the tubes 16, de-

pending upon the character of the material being evaporated.

The steam for evaporating the liquor in the pipe 22.

inventionis designed to separate all of the re-v The liquor in the tubes 16 is caused to boil by the live steam surrounding these tubes and liquor is thrown up and carried forward by thls boiling action and the velocity of the vapors generated. Since a low hydrostatic ead is maintained in the tubes, the upper part of the tube surfaces is under no hydrostatic head whatever, and for this reason perform at the highest efiiciency in evaporating the liquor thrown up by the boiling liquor head in the lower parts of these tubes.

The vapor with a certain amount of entrained liquor inthe form of large shots and mist'is projected or blown out of the upper ends of the; tubes 16 at a high velocity, as best shown in Fig. 1. This rojected vapor and entrained liquor strikes t e upper cover plate 12 and by. reason of the high velocity and the greater part of the entrained liquor striking the upper cover plate 12 is separated from the vapor and flows down the cover plate 12, and along the upper header 11 to the outlet'9 from which it flows down the vertical return pipe 18 and is returned in the lower part of this vertical return pipe.

The vapor with such entrained liquor as is not separated by being thrown against the upper cover plate, passes out throu h a vapor outlet 23 formed in the upper si e of the upper vaporheader 11 and passes around a bend24 to a vertical pipe 25 which connects with a separator indicated generally at 26. This separator 26 which embodies the present maining liquor entrained in the vapor as either mist or in the form of large shots, as

hereinafter described, and the liquor separated from the vapor is returned to the head 17 by a vertical ipe 27 which is connected to the lower end 0? the separator 26 and at its lower end is connected by a horizontal pipe 28 to the horizontal pipe 19 below the inclined shell 10. The separator 26 is provided at one side with a vapor outlet 29 from which the vapor, which is substantially free from any entrained liquor, iswithdrawn.

The separator 26 is entirely eflicient in its action and positively prevents entrained liquids, either as a mist or in the form of large shots from passing over with the vapor and while it is'shown as used in connection with to the liquor head 17 an eva orator, it is obvious that it can be used wlierever it is desired to separate entrained liquid froma gas traveling at high velocity as well as in connection with an evaporator. This separator 26 is preferably constructed as follows:

The numeral 30 represents a vertically disposed cylindrical shell in one side of which the vapor outlet 29 is formed. At its upper end this vapor separator shell 30 is closed by a head 31 and at its lower end by a head 32, these heads being secured to the shell in any suitable manner. The upper head is connected to the pipe 25 through which the vapor with its entrained liquor is introduced into the separator and is formed to provide a depending tubular baffle 33 which extends substantially to the lower head 32m The lower head is connected to the liquor outlet 27 and is formed to provide an upwardly extending overflow pipe 34 which projects up into the tubular baflie 33. The liquor 35 separated from the vapor collects in the lower part of enters the tubular bafile 33 at high velocity, it

is apparent that any large shots of entrained liquor continue in their downward path and pass directly through the overflow pipe 34 into the vertical pipe 27 where they join the liquor head 17.

The vapor with the, remaining entrained mist thereupon passes through a vertical slot 36 which is provided in the side of the tubular bafile 33 opposite to the vapor outlet 29 in the shell 3 As best shown in Fig. 3, the shell 30 of the separator is formed to provide an inwardly extending, vertical dividing rib 37 which projects towards the center of the slot 36 and divides the vapor and mist emerging from the slot into two streams, these streams passing between the tubular baffle 33 and the shell 30 on opposite sides of the tubular baflle 33.

Along the path of each of these streams, the

separator-shell is formed to provide a plurality of spaced inwardly pro]ect1ng ribs 38 which extend obliquely against the flow of the vapor and entrained liquor. Between these ribs 38, the tubular baflle 33 is formed to provide a plurality of similar ribs 39. It is therefore apparent that as the two streams is thrown against, theribs where it collects and flows down to the water trap 35 and over the overflow into the main liquor head 17 to be recirculated.

Any suitable means, such as a liquor outlet 40 at the foot of the return pipe 18 can be provided for withdrawing the liquor when it has been evaporated to the required degree.

The admission of liquor is preferably controlled so as to maintain a constant head of liquor by a float valve indicated generally at r 44 in the liquor inlet 43. -This float valve, as shown,.is composed of a float valve chamher 45 which is connected at its lower end to the liquor head by a branch line 46 and at its upper end is connected by a pipe 47 with the upper header 11 so that the level in the float chamber is always the same as the main liquor head 17. In this float valve chamber is arranged a float 48 which has an adjustable connection with an inlet valve 49, this connection being such that when the liquor head 17 drops, the float 48 opens the valve and permits liquor from the inlet pipe 50 to enter the liquor inlet 43 and restore the liquor head 17 to its proper level.

The vapor with the entrained moisture removed can be withdrawn from the vapor outlet 52 by any suitable form of vacuum pump with either a-barometric or a jet condenser. lhe separator can also be used between the effects of a multiple eflectevaporator in which case the passages through the separator are of such size as to insure the vapors traveling at a high uniform velocity through the apparatus and thereby provide evaporation of the liquor at the highest efiiciency.

velocity, a b0quid outlet for said inner body,-

said inner y being provided with an opening, a gas outlet connected with said shell and communicating with the space between said inner body and said shell, and baifle means rrauged in said space between said inner body and said shell and between said opening and said gas outlet.

2. A separator, compri a shell, a body in said shell, an inlet in sai inner body for receiving a and entrained liquid at high velocity, alili gdid outlet for said inner body, said inner f y being provided with an opening, a gas outlet connected with said shell and communicatin with the space betweeii said inner body an said shell, and ribs provided on the outside of said inner bodyj-and the inside of said shell, said ribs being-arranged a shell, a body to whip thegas assing from said opening to said gas outlet ack and forth and remove any entrained liquid therefrom.

3. A separator, comprisin a shell, a body in said shell, an inlet in sai inner body for receiving a gas and entrained liquid at high velocity, a 1i uid outlet for said inner body, said inner bo y being provided with an openlng, a gas outlet connected with said shell and communicating with the space between said inner body and said shell, baflle means arranged in said space between said inner body and said shell and between said opening and said gas outlet, and means for conducting the liquid removed by said baflle means from said gas to said liquid outlet.

, 4. A separator, comprising a shell, a body. in said shell, an inlet in said inner body for receiving a gas and entrained liquid at high velocity, a liquid outlet for said inner body,

said inner body being provided with an openv ing, a .gas outlet connected with said shell and communicatin with the space between said inner body an said shell,'r'ib's provided on the outside of said inner body and between said opening and said gas outlet, said ribs being angularly disposed to project against the path of the gas between said inner body and said shell, ribs provided on the inside of said shell between the ribs on said inner body and also angularly disposed to project against the path of the gas between said inner I body and said shell, whereby said gas is whipped back and forth between said ribs and the entrained liquid removed therefrom.

- 5. A. separator, comprising ashell, an inner 1 body depending from the upper part of said shell, and having an open lower end, an over flow pipe projecting upwardly from the bottom of said shell and above the lower end of said inner bod an inlet atthe upper end of said'inner bo y for receiving a gas and entrained li uid at high velocity, a liquid outlet connecte with said overflow pipe, means for preventing the passage of gas through said overflow pipe, an opening in one side of said innerbody and gas outlet on the side of said shell opposite said opening, and baffle means in the passage between said-shell and said inner body and between said opening and said gas outlet whereby the entrained liquid is removed from the gas passing from said opening to said gas outlet, said overflow pipe providing a liquid seal for the lower end of said inner body. In testimony whereof. I herebyaflix my signature;

' HARLAN W. HOW. 

